Bone clamp



July 5, 1927. 1,635,137

C. E. MULLENS BONE CLAMP Filed Jan. 11. 1927 WITNESSES Clarencel'. Muller M BY W.

W ATTORNEY 1 INVENTOR Patented July 5, 1927.

UNITEDTSTATES CLARENCE E. MULLENS, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK.

BONE CLAMP.

Application filed January 11, 1927. Serial No. 160,438.

The present invention is concerned with the provision of a surgical instrument primarily intended for use in setting broken bones, such for instance as arm or leg bones.

An object of the invent on is to provide an an instrumentwith which the two sections of the ad ustable aws.

a broken bone may be accurately aligned and held in properly aligned position until such time as the plaster cast ordinarily used becomes hardened.

Bone clamps as heretofore used have con-- sisted of two separate clamping elements. The surgeon having made an incision to expose the two sections of bone at the break, holds a clamp in each hand, and grasping with them the two sections of bone, endeavors to properly align the sections.

This methodis particularly satisfactory due primarily to the fact that much depends upon the skill of the surgeon and the steadiness with which he is able to hold the bone clamps.

In accordance with the present invention, both clamps are made a part of one instrument. They are individually adjustable to engage the twosections of bone to be. aligned, but means is provided for securely locking the two clamps against any relative movement after th y have been applied.

Other objects of the invention are to pro vide a surgical instrument of the character. above noted which will be of extremely simple practical construction, rugged, durable and efficient in use, easy to manipulate,

. and well suited to the requirements of economical manufacture.

With the above noted and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of constructions and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims. The nvention may be more fully understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein- I Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bone clamp embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is atop plan view thereof with a section of the block broken away to expose the trunnion on which one of the clamp arms is rockably adjusted. p

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevationofthe bone clamp showing the awe separated, the

' when closed.

dotted lines lndicating the position of the v v movement or individual movement by the Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing the mechanism for locking the movable iawsin adjusted position.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the block and stationary jaws with the adjustable jaws removed.

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of one of I have used the reference character 10 to designate a body orblock from the forward edge of which project a pair of integral arms,

11 supporting lower stationary jaw members 12. The jaw members 12 are adapted for coaction with upper movablejaws 13 carried by arms 14. These armsare integral with sector plates 15 lying on opposite sides of the block 10 and pivoting on trunnions. 15

pocketed in the outer faces of the block. The

sector plates at their larger ends are formed with arcuateslots 16 receiving respectively the head 17 of a bolt 18 passed transversely through the block 10' and a nut 19 screwed on to the threaded end'20 of the bolt. The walls of the slots 16 are shouldered as at 21 providing shoulders or lips which may be engaged by the head 17 and nut 19 respectively when the nut is tightened. It will thus be apparent that by tightening the nut, the sec.- tor plates 15 areclampedfirmly against the sides ofthe block and'the movable jaws 13 locked against movement. To render this engagement still more firm, the outer faces of the block and the inner faces of the sector plates are provided with cooperating toothed or otherwise roughened portions 22 which assure firm frictionalengagement.

To facilitate the manipulation of the movable jaws 13, eaoh'of the sector plates 15 may be provided with a movable handle 23, while an additional handle 24 may be attached to the block 10.

The manner of use of the tool is substantially as follows. The surgeon first makes an incision to expose the broken ends of the twofbone sections which are being aligned and set. Through this incision he inserts the clamps 12, 18, and individually manipulatestl e handles 23 until" the 'two sections of bone have been engaged and aligned by the respective clamps. The individual adjustmentofthe jaws 13 is desirable due to the fact that one section of bone'may be larger than the other. Having thus aligned the two bone sections, the two sets of jaws 12, 13 are securelvlocked against relative simple expedient of tightening the bolt 18. This tightening action may be conveniently accomplished by the use of a wrench shown in dotted lines at 25 (Fig. l) which is inserted into a square socket 26 in the bolt head 17. Having tightened the bolt to lock the jaws against movement, the jaws are concealed within a protective covering of any kind. This covering may for instance comprise a box (not shown). The plaster is then applied over a comparatively large area, but the box or other protective device prevents it from coming in Contact with the incision.

This protecting device is also so constructed that the bone clamp may be removed after the plaster has set. After the cast has set therefore, the physician unlocks the bolt 18, releases the jaws 12, 13 from their clamping engagement with the aligned bone sections, removes the tool and closes the incision.

Obviously, various changes and alterations might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without de parting from the invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself to the details set forth, but shall consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bone clamp including a body, a pair of spaced stationary jaws rigidly connected to said. body, a pair of spaced movable aws movably connected to said body and coopcrating with the stationary aws, means for independently adjusting the movable jaws, and means for locking said aws in any desired position of relative adjustment.

2. A bone clamp including a body, a pair of spaced stationary jaws rigidly connected to said body, a pair of spaced movable aws movably connected to said body and cooperating with the stationary jaws, means for independently adjusting the movable jaws, and means for lockingsaid jaws in any desired position of relative adjustment, said body comprising a block and the stationary jaws being rigid with curved arms projecting from the block.

3. A bone clamp including a body, a pair of spaced stationary jaws rigidly connected to said body, a pair of spaced movable jaws movably connected to said body and cooperating with the stationary jaws, means for independently adjusting the movable jaws and means for locking said jaws in any desired position of relative adjustment, said body comprising a block, the movable jaws being carried by arms pivoted intermediate their ends to the outer faces of opposite sides of the block.

A. A bone clamp including a body, a pair of spaced stationary jaws rigidly connected to said body, a pair of spaced movable jaws movably connected to said body and cooper- .ating with the stationary jaws, means for inthe block, the arms including enlarged sector shaped portions having arcuate slots therein and a clamping bolt passed through the block and having its ends disposed in the slots.

5. A bone clamp including a body, a pair of spaced stationary jaws rigidly connected to said body, a pair of spaced movable jaws movably connected to said body and cooperating with the stationary jaws, means for independently adjusting the movable jaws and means for locking said jaws in any desired position of relative adjustment, said body comprising a block, the movable jaws being carried by arms pivoted intermediate their ends to the outer faces of opposite sides of the block, the arms including enlarged sector shaped portions having arcuate slots therein and a clamping bolt passed through the block and having its ends disposed in the slots, said slots being shouldered for engagement with the ends of the clamping bolt to lock the arms against pivotal movement.

6. Abone clamp including abody, a pair of spaced stationary jaws rigidly connected to said body, a pair of spaced movable aws movably connected to said body and cooperating with the stationary aws, means for independently adjusting the movable jaws and means for locking said jaws in any desired position of relative adjustment. said body comprising a block, the movable jaws being carried by arms pivoted intermediate their ends to the outer faces of opposite sides of the block, the arms including enlarged sector shaped port-ions havingarcuate slots therein and a clamping bolt passed through the block and having its ends disposed in the slots, said slots being shouldered for engagement with the ends of the clamping bolt to lock the arms against pivotal movement, and means for tightening the bolt to clamp the arms.

7. A bone clamp including a body, a pair of spaced stationary jaws rigidlyconnected 'to said body, a pair of spaced movable jaws movably connected to said body and cooperating with the stationary jaws, means for in dependently adjusting the movable jaws and means for locking said jaws in any desired position of relative adjustment, said body comprising a block, the movable jaws being carried by arms .pivoted intermediate their ends to the outer faces of opposite sides of the block, the arms including enlarged sector shaped portions having arcuate slots therein and a clamping bolt passed through the block and having its ends disposed in the slots, saidslots being shouldered for engagement with the ends of the clamping bolt to lock the arms against pivotal movement, the over-riding faces of the sector plates and blocks being toothed to prevent slippage when the bolt is tightened.

8. A bone clamp comprising a block, a pair of substantially parallel arms projecting from one end of the block and rigid therewith, jaws at the ends of the arms, a second pair of arms pivotally connected to opposite sides of the block and including jaw portions coacting with the first mentioned j aws.

9. A bone clamp comprising a block, a pair of substantially parallel arms projecting from one end of the block and rigid therewith, jaws at the ends of the arms, a second pair of arms pivotally connected to opposite sides of the block and including jaw portions coacting' with the first mentioned jaws, and means for adjusting the pivoted arms and for selectively locking them in adjusted position.

10. A bone clamp including a pair of substantially parallel rigidly connected arms including jaw portions, a movable arm associated with each of the first mentioned arms and each including a jaw coacting with the first mentioned jaws, means for adjusting the movable arms and for selectively locking them in any position of adjustment.

CLARENCE E. MULLENS. 

